Late winter, usually the month of February, is considered the ideal time of the year to prune almost all of the different fruit trees and vines that grow in our area. So, whether you have apples, pears, peaches, muscadines or bunch grapes, you need to make plans to get your pruners out soon.

The type and amount of pruning can vary greatly, depending on the type of fruit tree, age of the tree and the amount of pruning it has received in the past. For example, apple and pear trees should be pruned to where they will have one central or main trunk, while peach trees are usually pruned to have an open center.

The main idea to keep in mind is that all these fruit trees need to have small limbs thinned out so that it will create a more “open” looking appearance. “Opening” up the center of these trees will cause it to produce less, but larger and better quality fruit. This higher quality fruit is also usually less prone to develop a disease or fungus, which causes a lot of fruit loss each year.

Both muscadine and bunch grape vines should be pruned back to the main runners each year. The ideal vine should only have about four of these main runners.

The Walker County Extension office has a brochure on all these and many more fruit trees and plants, which are free to local residents. These brochures include information on pruning, fertilizing, insect, and disease control.

Call 638-2548 to get more details about pruning your trees and vines or stop by our office at 102 E. Napier Street in LaFayette to pick up one of the brochures.

Norman Edwards is coordinator of Walker County Extension Service.